Understanding Fraud in the Silver Mining Districts of the Western United States in the Second Half of the 19th Century

Abstract

The mining industry has recorded many events of large fraud. The Comstock Lode in particular had several different types of fraud committed at different stages in the time frame of a mine in operation. The history of the Comstock Lode is important to understanding how lies can be believed, and has an impact on current day investments. Enormous cases of fraud have occurred since the Comstock Lode, and the methods of fraud are largely similar. Identifying where and how fraud occurs that leads to it going unnoticed is necessary for prevention. Additionally, rules and regulations need to be made and followed to ensure that claims are indeed what they appear to be. The Comstock Lode will be the main area of focus due to the typical occurrence of fraud in this region during its development.